Porsche ups the ante with new Panamera S E-Hybrid

Making its debut at the Shanghai Auto Show, Porsche's new Panamera S E-Hybrid stood front and center, metaphorically at least, among its Panamera siblings: a now nine-strong lineup, refreshed for 2014. The Panamera S E-Hybrid differentiates itself from its predecessor, the plain 'ol Panamera S Hybrid, with a much-improved battery and electric motor. Performance-wise, the S E-Hybrid is no slouch, hitting 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standstill in 5.2 seconds, and nudging 167 mph (269 km/h) at top speed.

Given the development of a new lithium-ion battery, which increases capacity from 1.7 to 9.4 kWh, the insertion of the E into the name seems entirely justified. The electric motor provides 95 hp (71 kW), just better than doubling the previous model's 47 hp. Connected to a 240-V supply, Porsche claims the battery can be fully charged inside 150 minutes.

The full specs sheet for the Panamera S E-Hybrid is still missing a few fuel consumption figures, though Porsche has released 71 g/km of CO2 emissions, though conditions for meeting this figure aren't clear.

New Executive models of the Panamera S and Panamera 4S also made their debut in Shanghai. Both pack a new 3-liter twin-turbo V6 and an extended wheelbase.

It's now 4 years, almost to the day, since Porsche unveiled the original Panamera in Shanghai. The company says that, in 2012, one in every three Panameras was exported to China, which is now Porsche's largest market outside of the US.

The Panamera S E-Hybrid is set to launch before the end of the year, starting at US$99,000.